Healthcare organizations know how to move mountains with limited resources — particularly IT resources. Hospitals, medical research firms, biopharmaceutical companies, and more work to deliver outstanding patient care, drive breakthroughs in the field, and jump hurdles in real time as they arise. By Ellen Rubin, CEO and co-founder, ClearSky Data

One year ago, Jackson Health System in Miami realized a cultural shift was necessary in order to move forward. By Bill Griffith, Vice President of Business Process/Operational Improvement for Jackson Health System, Miami

A big part of routine daily healthcare management operations is managing huge volumes of data—and it's becoming increasingly more of a challenge. EMC estimates the amount of stored healthcare data nearly doubles every two years. The amount of data managed will continue to grow as healthcare organizations add new equipment and incorporate data-intensive, next-generation diagnostic tools.

The push to deliver greater value is prompting healthcare organizations to closely examine their clinical and financial processes in search of ways to boost efficiency, improve accuracy, and elevate the patient experience. With this in mind, First Care Clinic, a federally qualified health center and level 3 patient centered medical home located in rural Kansas, set out to retool one of its critical processes — the patient care visit.

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

Data breaches continue to dominate healthcare headlines, leading one to wonder if the unprecedented growth of Big Data is to blame? Health Data Consortium CEO Chris Boone shares his thoughts on this subject and more.

DASHBOARD PREMIUM CONTENT

In our last issue, readers identified HIE/interoperability as the third most pressing health IT trend for 2016. Guest writer, Dr. Donald Voltz, noted the current lack of interoperability adversely impacts patient care and leads to unintended clinical consequences. Voltz further notes that, despite pressure from the AMA and AAFP, little resolution has been obtained and, “The future of interoperability will not be solved with new policies either in Washington or within the EHR market. There is simply not enough incentive to do so.”

With all the talk of Big Data, there are still big questions as to how to most effectively leverage information and data to make a positive impact on healthcare delivery, cost, and outcomes. One health system leader thinks an approach developed by a Major League baseball team might be a game changer.

When announcing the goal of interoperability by 2024, HHS said the flow of information is fundamental. While many share this sentiment, significant barriers remain to improving interoperability at many healthcare organizations.

ABOUT DASHBOARDS

Healthcare dashboards are often computers screens, printouts, or other displays that allow hospitals and healthcare organizations to monitor and gain greater insight into their key performance indicators (KPIs). Based on the goals of the organization, dashboards can be customized to display any relevant information and can be updated in real-time to allow for quick and simple monitoring.

Dashboards can also be customized to show data relevant to hospital administrators, patients, physicians, and other stakeholders. Dashboards provide users with a simple way to pull reports and monitor quality of care, while acting as an easy clinical decision aide tool. Dashboards are beneficial to doctors, nurses, and staff because they provide a very quick overview, often with charts and graphs, allowing busy individuals to quickly take in the necessary information and make appropriate decisions.